Grand jury to hear case against Syracuse father charged after son shot, killed

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The case against a Syracuse father who was charged for having an illegal gun after one of his sons was accidentally shot and killed has been waived to a grand jury.

Jermaine Moore, 44, of 107 Hartson St., was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of stolen property and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Syracuse police.

Moore's 8-year-old son, Sha'Leek Carrears, was fatally shot by his 9-year-old brother on Aug. 21 inside their father's 107 Hartson St. home, officials said. The boy was accidentally killed by a bullet fired from his father's illegal gun, police said.

The 9-year-old boy thought the gun was fake.

"Moore did knowingly leave this weapon within his home where 6 children reside," police wrote in court papers. "Furthermore, Moore did leave this weapon unsupervised, and within the reach of all children present within the home."

Court papers do not say how Moore got the gun. It was first reported stolen a year ago by now-fired Syracuse firefighter Edward "Ted" Ackerman.

Moore was arraigned Sept. 6 in Syracuse City Court and through his attorney, he pleaded not guilty. Moore was back in city court this morning with new Defense Attorney Graeme Spicer.

Spicer said Moore was in city court this morning to resolve a non-related noise complaint case and to waive the criminal case to an Onondaga County grand jury.

Moore, who was being held in jail on $10,000 cash or bond, is currently out of bail.